The Azzurri had unfinished business in Lille. It was two years ago in the northern city that Les Bleus, still amid a post-World Cup hangover, miraculously escaped with a draw after being outplayed by the visitors. For the French, that quasi-defeat prompted a complete rejuvenation of the team, which yielded immediate results.<\/p>\n
France were now an entirely different beast, as they showed their cross-Alpine neighbours in the Rome drubbing last year. Italy, however, were also riding high after two impressive opening displays in the tournament this year.<\/p>\n
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How might Ireland pull off a Twickenham upset?<\/p>\n
Les Bleus initially looked to be putting together another first-half frenzy of tries. It was the inevitable Louis Bielle-Biarrey who went over first, latching on to Antoine Dupont\u2019s kick through to score for a record-breaking eighth consecutive Six Nations fixture<\/a>.<\/p>\n France\u2019s second came after an intricate 50-22 found by Thomas Ramos, who was deputising at outhalf for the injured Matthieu Jalibert. Emmanuel Meafou eventually powered over after a few phases for his first try for his country.<\/p>\n The inclusion of Meafou and Thibaud Flament, both starting for the first time in this year\u2019s tournament, effectively neutralised the Italian power that had caused issues for Ireland last week. Gonzalo Quesada\u2019s men did not go under, though, and responded with several forays into the French 22. Poor handling and a lightning-quick France defence would invariably stop them in their tracks.<\/p>\n The storm of Azzurri attacks was eventually brought to an end when Dupont snatched the ball away from an airborne Tommaso Menoncello. In the ensuing counter, \u00c9milien Gailleton, picking up Bielle-Biarrey\u2019s scuffed kick, tore through the Italian defence before finding Ramos for a finish in the corner.<\/p>\n This time, Italy did come up with a response. Ramos, desperately covering back after Menoncello\u2019s kick upfield, could only flick the ball to his fullback stand-in. Th\u00e9o Attissogbe, who opted to run from his try line, was soon swarmed by the Italian chasers. Ange Capuozzo would finally turn Italy\u2019s territorial domination into points by pouncing on a ball that was trickling over the line.<\/p>\n Paolo Garbisi\u2019s converted penalty minutes later gave further credence to the idea of an Italy comeback after the break, even if it was immediately followed by another spilled ball from a kick-off. In any case, the Azzurri were showing that they were well worth the respect their hosts were showing them.<\/p>\n The second half was marked by a reversal in the dynamics of the match, with France instead keeping Italy in their own 22 but squandering one chance after another to clinch the bonus point. Successive spills, from Attissogbe, then Fabien Brau-Boirie, then Bielle-Biarrey, meant the hosts were still not out of sight by the time the match entered its final 10 minutes.<\/p>\n![\"Italy's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EAYIZOV2NOBFFGSBY3DZXJWSFU.jpg\")
Italy’s Riccardo Favretto catches a lineout ball during the Six Nations match against France on Sunday. Photograph: AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n